Tester urges Obama to strengthen partnership with Canada

Montana’s senior Senator pushes border security, conservation, agriculture, and lumber issues in letter to the President

(Great Falls, Mont.)-Senator Jon Tester is urging President Obama to address economic policies, conservation efforts, and border security with Canada during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first official state visit to the United States.

In a letter to Obama, Tester pushed the President to address five specific issues that directly impact Montana families with the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister when they meet on March 10.

“Montana’s relationship with Canada is critically important in strengthening our economy, national security and outdoor way of life,” Tester said. “Folks across Big Sky Country want this international relationship to improve our safety, our forests, our water, and our world class agricultural products.”

Tester is putting pressure on the Obama Administration to work with Canada to modernize the Columbia River Treaty and better protect watersheds that are threatened by Canadian resource development.

Tester also wants to ensure the Administration works closer with Canadian law enforcement officials to address vulnerabilities on the northern border and disrupt criminal activities while ensuring that American law enforcement has everything they need to conduct joint duties across the border.

While Canada is Montana’s largest trade partner, Tester once again highlighted the fact that current trade policies and wheat grading classifications set in place by Canada unfairly allow Canadian grain buyers to pay Montana wheat growers less than Canadian wheat growers for Montana products.

Finally, Tester reiterated the importance of negotiating a new Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada that takes current market conditions into account and protects lumber mills in northwest Montana.

Tester’s letter to President Obama is available HERE.